POLOKWANE – The Limpopo futsal men’s team did not reach the final stage of the South African Age Group Games for Intellectually Impaired People after being knocked out of the tournament by the team from Gauteng.
The match was played at the Ngoako Ramahlodi Indoor Sports Complex in Seshego on Thursday.
Limpopo was beaten 10-7 by the Gauteng team.
Limpopo dominated the first half of the game and maintained a 5-3 lead until halftime. Gauteng fought back with a massive effort and managed to equalise in the first five minutes of the second half. In the end, Limpopo could not match Gauteng’s standard.
Nkgodi Senwamadi, Limpopo futsal head coach, said the players played well even though they lost the game.
“This is the first time that we take part in this sport, but I am happy with the performance. It shows that we are heading somewhere in the sport of futsal. The sport requires more running than soccer and it needs people who are fit and hard working,” he said.
The Limpopo futsal team includes three soccer players who formed part of the national team that competed in Brazil during the Inas World Championships recently. Justice Tshililo, Calvin Letsoalo and Tebogo Maboya tried to use what they have learnt in Brazil to help the team, but it seemed it was not enough.
The South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASAII) public relations officer, Albert Warnick, said the sport was fascinating and the fact that it was played indoors makes it much better as fans won’t have to worry about the weather.
“We believe that provinces will take futsal seriously and eventually grow it to the next level. I am happy with the way teams played, they were all committed and keen to win,” he said.
Futsal is a variant of indoor soccer on a smaller field.
